Get rid of Microsoft's Start Menu ads with this new software tool — the "Oh F*ck Go Back" program cleans up Windows 11

asdf
(Image credit: xM4ddy)

Many Windows 11 users are up in arms after Microsoft added unremovable ads to its start menu in its latest update. Thankfully, a solution has arrived in "Oh F*ck Go Back" (OFGB), a program that allows users to disable every flavor of ad on the operating system with the click of the mouse.

OFGB comes from Maddy (@xM4ddy), a programmer who drives Arch Linux daily rather than Windows and was inspired to build the novelty tool for Windows anyway. The program presents a simple-to-use GUI that itemizes the ads you can remove, highlighting how many ads we enjoy on Windows now. Each checkbox clicked safely edits the registry for you, saving users undue confusion and the risk of breaking their OS with a typo. The program has found moderate levels of virality through Reddit and Twitter reposts and has even attracted a few thousand users. We could reach her for comment, asking about her reasons for leaving Windows behind, the tool's existence, and what life is like on the Linux side of the fence. Some responses have been minimally edited for clarity.

"I think the most important thing the tool has done is getting people to talk about ads and their place in paid software like Windows," said Maddy about OFGB. She continued, saying the program "is getting people to consider taking a look at alternative software like Linux. Remember, competition is good for consumers." Running Linux would make removing ads from your operating system a breeze; a brief trip to the console might solve the problem. "I only made this after Windows gave me an error when I ran 'sudo pacman -R ads.'" 

We asked Maddy why, as a Linux user, she felt the need to build this tool for Windows. She responded, "I was getting more and more annoyed by ads in random places and decided to try to find an easy fix. After coming across a .reg file by Shawn Brink, I found my answer. After thinking more about it, I figured it may be accessible to more people if there was a GUI so that less tech-savvy people could easily set the registry keys without needing any knowledge of the registry." 

Our next question for Maddy was about Windows and Linux and what prompted her to leave. "I switched over to Linux when I started programming and getting into tech when I was younger. What drew me to it was the customization it provided and the open-source nature. I was also enamored with other people's beautiful Linux setups," said Maddy. When asked if Windows could win her back, Maddy laughed, "Windows lost me a long time ago by adding more and more telemetry, ads, and the lack of easily configurable options. As soon as the last few programs that I just can't get away from are running right under Wine or Proton I plan to ditch it completely." 

Our huge thanks to Maddy for her comments on her project. If you want to clean up the ads on your Windows 11 computer, you can find OFGB version 0.2 on GitHub. Windows' most recent update is undoubtedly less than popular as it brought ads and bugs that break your VPNs - a problem that has yet to be solved. If you want to follow Maddy into the wondrous world of Arch Linux, it recently beat Windows 11 in gaming performance testing, along with a few other more user-friendly Linux distros.

Dallin Grimm
Contributing Writer

Dallin Grimm is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has been building and breaking computers since 2017, serving as the resident youngster at Tom's. From APUs to RGB, Dallin has a handle on all the latest tech news. 

  • NinoPino
    There is the need of a new desktop operating system to replace Windows. It is becoming a real shame and I cannot understand why not a single OEM can stop this degradation. Is it possible that all OEMs are allright with this ?
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    NinoPino said:
    There is the need of a new desktop operating system to replace Windows
    Linux is likely the future (even if a ways off) OS of most ppl. Apple fancult will ofc have their macos but windows will eventually become so intrusive/annoying people will go to linux to get away from it all.

    we've seen arm and possibly risc-v in future advance to be able to match performance and only thing really left is app/program devs to give it more support & then you'll see more windows like gui's on linux as an alternative for windows. (as someone not tech savvy isnt gonna use a complex linux so a build close to windows would work for them)
    Reply
  • NinoPino
    hotaru251 said:
    Linux is likely the future (even if a ways off) OS of most ppl. Apple fancult will ofc have their macos but windows will eventually become so intrusive/annoying people will go to linux to get away from it all.
    It all depends on companies, not peoples.
    Reply
  • tiggers97
    Is there software designed to feed back useless user information? I feel like until the data they extract from users is less valuable, they won't get the message that consumers and customers want to be treated as customers. And not manipulated into becoming the product.
    Reply
  • Sippincider
    NinoPino said:
    Is it possible that all OEMs are allright with this ?
    Look at the bloatware many OEMs bundle into their systems. Not only are they all right, I would guess many fully support it.
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    "OFGB comes from Maddy (@xM4ddy), a programmer who drives Arch Linux daily rather than Windows"

    A legend in his own time...

    TY, Maddy
    Reply
  • Heat_Fan89
    NinoPino said:
    There is the need of a new desktop operating system to replace Windows. It is becoming a real shame and I cannot understand why not a single OEM can stop this degradation. Is it possible that all OEMs are allright with this ?
    There are options such as macOS or Linux. I personally have Windows 11 installed on one computer. Every other computer is running a version of Linux and I have several Macs.

    I'm not a Windows hater but I saw the writing on the wall after Windows 8.1 followed by Windows 10 when Windows became more of a service rather than a retail product.
    Reply
  • NedSmelly
    NinoPino said:
    It all depends on companies, not peoples.
    I suspect that there would be a mass migration to Linux if Adobe and Autodesk suddenly decided to support it. Multiplatform compatibility with MS Office stopped being a problem with Office 365.

    A lot of custom corporate software is locked into Windows, so there's many years worth of platform inertia there too. Same for health and education. MS Azure seems to be driving the infrastructure for a lot of services that I'm currently using for work.
    Reply
  • Sluggotg
    One small thing we can do is boycott any product that has ads built into Windows. Take the time to notify the companies that are paying Microsoft to put the mandatory ads in windows, that you will NEVER buy their products because of this. When the companies find out they are making permanent enemies with these kind of ads, maybe they will be a little less common.
    Reply
  • TheOtherOne
    NinoPino said:
    There is the need of a new desktop operating system to replace Windows. It is becoming a real shame and I cannot understand why not a single OEM can stop this degradation. Is it possible that all OEMs are allright with this ?
    Gaming and Corporate are too major reasons. Micro$oft has all the game developers AND Hardware Manufacturers (only two big ones, nVidia and AMD) in their pockets and they won't officially support Linux.

    Then you have their Office Suite that a LOT of small to medium size companies rely on. Micro$oft offers much cheaper subscription options (compare to others) and it's all integrated in Windows.
    Reply